Observations going from Super.fi 5 Pro to E500

[chunks]

Well, I'm on my 3rd set of E4s (warranty return) and, yes, there is a massive burn in.

That or there's a hideous variance in sound between pairs

Comments?

Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJShadow /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah theres no burn-in with IEMs, of the physical kind at least. Only your mind getting used to the sound will be the psychological burn-in. With full sized headphones burn-in will change the characteristics (more bass, wider soundstage etc)-no such thing occurs with IEMs.

 

[kyoshiro]

you sure use em hard chunks lol

 

[kyleisgreat]

All this talk makes me love my sp5 pro's just a little more

 

[mirumu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunks /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, I'm on my 3rd set of E4s (warranty return) and, yes, there is a massive burn in. That or there's a hideous variance in sound between pairs Comments?

So did the pairs just sound different outright irrespective of burn-in or did they change over time to have the same sound despite the initial differences? Same tips, etc? Did you use any other headphones/IEMs while waiting for your E4 warranty replacements that may have caused readjustment?

 

[ozz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyleisgreat /img/forum/go_quote.gif All this talk makes me love my sp5 pro's just a little more

i agree with that.

 

[ManAtWork]

The sound of Super.fi Pro 5 is impressive, but its cable is annoying.

 

[tonyfiore75]

It's funny that someone mentioned the SMELL of the Super.Fi's cable!!! Why? Because I noticed the very same thing!!! They Do have a smell. It's not like horse sh**t smell or anything but is most definitely is a scent of some kind. I equate it to new-car scent and try to enjoy it. I figure when the cable starts getting old it'll lose it's smell just like a car. So funny.

Oh, and I didn't think that my Super.Fis needed a burn in. They sounded great right out of the box to me. I do think that my E4cs needed a burn in period, though; so I think it depends on the IEM. My UM2s also needed to be burned in (without a DOUBT). They sounded muddy as hell right out of the box.

I also think that it's not JUST one thing or the other. Yes, i do think that burn in exists but I also think your ears have to get used to different sound signatures. The E4cs has ZERO bass when I first got them and then eventually after hours and hours of listening it seemed to improve. And NO, it wasn't ONLY because my ears adjusted to them (yes, that was part of it, though). How do I know this? Because I wasn't solely using the E4cs. I would switch between different 'phones and could hear the bass coming into the E4cs as time passed.

And yes, I know that seal and other factors could play a part but it's sort of like global warming... it may not be 100% proven but it's obvious that it isn't an imagined concept. That's how I feel about burn-in.

 

[ZugZug]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek /img/forum/go_quote.gif How long did you listen to them before letting them burn-in? You said you let them burn-in for a day. Is your memory good enough to remember exactly how they sounded before your burn-in attempt? Perhaps you merely expected them to sound better, so they did?

A listened for about 10 hours or so before letting them burn-in. While listening, I noticed that brush on hi-hats produced a constant noise and overall highs were muddy with E500. That's with FLAC encoded sources. Highs sounded great on SF5P though. After burn-in, highs on E500 are as detailed as on SF5P to me. Except for one thing. Vocal 's', 'z', and guitar and synth sounds around that freq sound a bit "dirty," like there's slight resonance there. Can only hear it in quiet environment and it's not on SF5P.

Smell is a PVC smell. I just wonder if there is some chemical to neutralize it somehow. It will dissipate with time but it feels too strong now.

As for theory behind burn-in, anything that has moving mechanical parts (and balanced armature is no exception) is subject to burn-in. There is a matter of scale, of course, but you have to consider ratio of change to size of device. Miniscule change in balanced aramture has a large impact because device is very small. And, yes, I know balanced armature construction and how it works. Only thing I do not know is what material is used for diaphragm.

 

[chunks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirumu /img/forum/go_quote.gif So did the pairs just sound different outright irrespective of burn-in or did they change over time to have the same sound despite the initial differences? Same tips, etc? Did you use any other headphones/IEMs while waiting for your E4 warranty replacements that may have caused readjustment?

Once they've settled down they end up sounding the same (yes, I know, how can I tell?) the first pair just sounded 'right' out of the box, whereas the 2nd pair took forever to settle down. The latest set are just about there after a fortnight. I always use foamies.

I have set of E2 for backup and they sound terrible after the E4s. For both replacements I've only had to endure one day's commuting with the E2, whereas I'd worn them for several months before receiving the original set of E4s.

The most obvious burn-in change is in the quality & quantity of bass, and the soundstage, such as it is.

 

[Veggie_Musician]

Burn in for IEM's do happen! Its like an urban myth on headfi that IEM's dont burn in - one or two ppl say they dont, then everyone says it!

Appart from sonic changes due to burn in, My UM2 seem to have a quieter left side. I swapped ears peices to left and right and found it not my ears (altho I think my left ear is my weaker one anyway) - tried other IEM's and no problems.

Was considering returning them but not got round to it as I was busy... After about 3 months of solid use left driver seemed to free up and was same as right driver!

 

[geardoc]

Yes, every IEM or headphone in a gradual upgrade ramp seems to produce an initial disappointment followed by a slow realization of its improvement.

The SF5pro to E500 is a big step because the SF5 has so much bass impact, sounds great and has strong highs, it makes it seem like the E500 is watered down sound.

But, after a while you won't be able to listen to your Superfi's, and the upgrade has taken another casualty. You begin looking at the Triplefi's.
-- sorry about your wallet.

 

[frescagod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek /img/forum/go_quote.gif And how do you know it was burn-in? Perhaps your brain was just getting used to the new sound.

i actually agree with Piccolo....burn-in on IEMs? i'm skeptical. burn-in on full-sized cans, like sennheiser HD650s? i'd be more inclined to believe it, because they have actual large coils that can be stiff out of the box, but more worked-in the longer you play music on them.

regarding the e500s, i don't really think there was a physical burn-in, but rather, my ears and brain just needed time to get accustomed to the change in presentation (coming from e4s).

 

[leqin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek /img/forum/go_quote.gif As for your questions, I never knew the wires on the 5 pro had any smell, especially considering that the wires were on my ears, and not under my nose.

As a 5 Pro and ER4 owner I can confirm that UE's new series 2 cable - the clear and black and white versions - all smell, at least all of them that I've been exposed to which is... well I haven't got enough fingers and toes'ies, but I can tell you that its not a very pleasant smell. Its stinky and the cable itself is bloody uncomfortable and both are more than reason why I'm looking at either dumping UE completely or hacking a more comfortable and zero smelly cable together out of a a spare ER lead... even the postman, who dropped off my replacement cable that UE recently sent me, commented on the horrible stink he'd just had to carry around on his round that was obviously emanating from UE's packet - even the free T they included had to be washed in order to get rid of the cables vapors - so yes UE's cables stink official.

 

[spinali]

Break-in with IEMs is kind of controversial, as you can tell. I found vast differences in sound given placement of the earpieces, and this kind of variability makes it hard to find the truth. I'm a pretty staunch believer in headphone break-in, but I've not yet heard IEM break-in.

 

[mastercheif]

I am not a beleiver in IEM break in/Burn in. I beleive the changes most people hear when they get new IEMs are the person's ears ajusting to were the sounds they are looking for are located in the new soundstage. Shure isn't a beliver in break in either

"Shure earphones do not require a break-in period. Some headphone websites recommend "burning in" or "breaking in" new headphones with an audio signal for some length of time before use. There is a legitimate logic behind the idea of a break-in period for loudspeakers and even full-size headphones. The part of the speaker that is being "broken in" is called the surround, which is the part that flexes when the speaker diaphragm moves in and out. In the case of the tiny speakers used in earphones, the diaphragm only moves about 1/1,000th of an inch in either direction when exposed to normal signals. So, it is doubtful that a break-in period would significantly alter the compliance of the diaphragm. Shure has not measured any difference in performance between earphones that are brand new and earphones that have been used extensively. Because hearing is subjective, however, different users may hear different things when comparing new and used earphones."